If You Complain, You Remain: Five Confessions for Every Crisis
Dr RJ Sing, 20 min, Part 1 of The Highest Kind of Faith
Originally preached as “The Highest Kind of Faith, Part 1”
Sermon outline
In every crisis a child of God keeps his eyes on the Word rather than the circumstances, and keeps speaking five basic confessions until what he says becomes his reality.
Main text
- Romans 12:2
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
Opening
He asks everyone to take a pen and write this down, because the things of God are not hit and miss; they must be studied and adhered to. He teaches that a child of God must handle crisis differently from the world, by renewing the mind and speaking God's words, as Sister Zubeda had shared that morning. He then reminds the church of five basic confessions he had taught them some time back.
Your words will create your world
Your mind must be renewed so that you think God's thoughts, because as you think you will speak, and as you speak you will have. Many people do not like the results they are getting, but those results are simply the confession of their yesterday. It takes discipline and training, so keep saying the Word when you are hurt and when everything is contrary, and soon it becomes a reality.
Illustration: A pilot does not consider the sky and the storm; he looks at his instruments and knows everything is okay. A child of God looks into the Word the same way.
“Most people today have today what they confessed yesterday.”
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Romans 12:2
- Proverbs 23:7
- James 1:25
- 1 Peter 1:18-19
1. Jesus Christ is Lord
Everyone knows Jesus is Lord, but it must shape how you respond when there is no food at home, no money for the bills, or news that you have lost your job. Keep saying He is Lord and stand on the Word. Stop complaining about your food, your pay packet, your work and your family, because God hates a lack of appreciation.
Illustration: If you are eating potatoes, thank God for it, because meat is on its way. Take your small pay packet, break it, give thanks and say, 'Lord, it will multiply.'
“If you complain, you will remain. If you praise, you will be raised.”
- Ephesians 4:5
- Ephesians 6:13
2. I don't have a care
God is the potter and you are the clay, and He stretches you at each level: if you cannot trust Him for 200 rand, how can you trust Him for 2,000, or for a million? Instead of saying 'I'm going to die', say 'Lord, you're able to take me through.' Cast your care on Jesus, not on your friend, your neighbour or people at church.
Illustration: Your care greets you in the morning, staring and laughing at you: 'Remember me, I'm your care.' You look at it and say, 'I have no care.'
“When you cast your care upon Jesus, he comes through.”
- 1 Peter 5:7
3. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
Instead of crying 'I'm wanting', praise God in your want. People think he 'has it made', but he makes it happen with his mouth, and you can also block your blessings with yours. Stop complaining that everything is too high, and speak to your cupboards, your bills and your business.
Illustration: The old chorus says 'Count your blessings, name them one by one', but some are naming their curses one by one. Go to your kitchen and tell your cupboards they will be full this month, and put your bills on the table and tell them to shrink.
“The secret is in your mouth.”
- Psalm 23:1
4. I'm free
Confessing freedom is not lying: you acknowledge the doctor's report, but the doctor is stating a fact, and the truth is that you are free. Every morning confess the Word over the sickness and command it to leave your body.
Illustration: He prayed for a woman with breast cancer and watched the growth burst in front of his eyes. Since then he is not afraid to pray for people with cancer.
“But the doctor is stating a fact. The truth is you are free.”
- Psalm 103:3
5. The Lord is my wisdom
Don't pray for wisdom; confess each morning that you walk in the wisdom of the Lord, and forget yesterday's mistakes. Don't camp in Lo-debar, the land of not enough, when God wants to move you to the land of more than enough. With every new level comes a new devil, but God is training you from a child into a son who can help others, so reign over circumstances and praise Him in the trial, as the apostles did in prison.
Illustration: Some people have camped in Lo-debar with their sunglasses and sun cap on, and when the pastor brings the Word they say it is not for them. He also tells one believer: 'I met you in 2001, you were lacking ... I met you 2004, you're lacking.'
“God's training you to reign.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
- 2 Samuel 9:4
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Acts 16:25
Putting it into practice
- Write down the five basic confessions and speak them on hard days and easy days.
- Keep your eyes on the Word, not on the circumstance.
- Stop complaining, and thank God for what you already have.
- Speak to your cupboards, your bills and your business.
- Praise God in the middle of the trial.
Closing
This part has no formal close. It ends on the apostles praising God in prison until He sent an angel, and his warning that some people do not get an angel because they are not praising when they are being tried. The teaching continues in Part 2.
Declarations he led
- Jesus Christ is Lord.
- I don't have a care.
- The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.
- I'm free.
- Today I have the wisdom of the Lord. I function in divine wisdom.
In his words
- “Your words will create your world.”
- “Most people today have today what they confessed yesterday.”
- “If you complain, you will remain. If you praise, you will be raised.”
- “You're the prophet of your own life.”
- “Some of you don't get an angel because you're not praising when you're being tried.”
Every scripture in this message
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Romans 12:2
- Proverbs 23:7
- James 1:25
- 1 Peter 1:18-19
- Ephesians 4:5
- Ephesians 6:13
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Psalm 23:1
- Psalm 103:3
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
- 2 Samuel 9:4
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Acts 16:25
